Thank you very much for taking the time to sign up for the No Blur! EyeMail Newsletter. The No Blur! EyeMail Newsletter is sent out approximately four times per year. The newsletter will contain the most recent developments in eyecare today, interesting information about your eyes, as well as a fun item. You can view the previous No Blur! EyeMails by clicking the online archive icon above. You can also send any comments or suggestions about the No Blur! EyeMail down in the related links section below.
In this installment of the No Blur! Eyemail I would like to mention the GOS. GOS stands for the Global
Orthokeratology Symposium. Although the art of Orthokeratology has now extended past the four decade mark,
this incredible procedure is still generally unknown to the public. In the summer of 2002, the very first
GOS took place in Toronto, Canada. It was an international meeting of minds all practiced and dedicated to
the art of Orthokeratology. Over four hundred physicians from seventeen represented countries around the
world for the first time in history were all together in one place discussing Orthokeratology. Everything
from the scientific research to the clinical management of patients. Although I have been performing
Orthokeratology for almost fifteen years now, I don't believe that I can relate the feeling that I experienced
in discussing face-to-face, my ideas with my colleagues from Australia, China, and the United Kingdom. The
free exchange of ideas and concepts crossing over international borders brings a wealth of benefits to patients
around the world who are interested in this incredible procedure that we refer to as Orthokeratology. I
sincerely believe that more was accomplished to advance the art of Orthokeratolgy in that short week than has
been done in the past decade. In 2003 the GOS was unfortunately cancelled due to the SARS epidemic but once
again in the summer of 2004, the second GOS was held. At this meeting over six hundred physicians from
thirty-seven countries were present. Again, an enormous amount of information was exchanged amongst all of
those in attendance. I believe that the increase in attendance is a signal that Orthokeratology has finally
come of age. Orthokeratology should in the near future be finding its way more into mainstream treatment
modalities, and I would expect public consumption of this procedure to rise dramatically. After forty years,
I would have to say, it is about time! I am already looking forward to the GOS 2005. The future of
Orthokeratology is looking very bright.
Dr. Maller
Retaane is a new drug from Alcon currently undergoing its FDA trials. The goal of this drug is to help preserve vision, prevent severe vision loss and help stop the growth of all lesion types associated with wet macular degeneration. The data on this drug was presented recently at a meeting and is showing some promise in this area. Based on its current position in FDA trials and the rate of continued clinical FDA trials, we could see this drug on the market some time in the first half of 2005.
Although the rate of infection after a Lasik procedure is very low, a recent study looked at this problem. It is believed to be, based on the reporting, as high as 1.2%. The study also looked at its effects on vision and showed that when infection occured the quality of vision was affected moderately to severely in just about 50% of the cases. Possible improvement on visual outcome was shown by performing a flap lift and repositioning within three days. Depending on the organism involved, the infections would show up as early as the first few days or even well into the second week or later. The latest generation antibiotics that are now being routinely used should help decrease this infection rate.
In a recent study on rats, riboflavin deficient diets showed significant ocular surface changes. These types of changes would cause a dry eye condition. By enriching the diets of the rats, the ocular surface changes were reversed. This continues to underscore the many facets that can contribute to this very complex entity that we refer to as "Dry Eye Syndrome." There were no human studies conducted as of yet.
Although Lasik complications do not often involve retinal problems, when the retina does get involved the complications can be very serious. Dilated fundus examinations are important prior to Lasik as well as after Lasik, especially if the level of acuity is not as it as expected. A study recently done looked at the involvement of retinal complications associated with Lasik based on several retrospective studies as well as case reports. Among the complications noted are retinal breaks, retinal detachments with a tear, and choroidal neovascularization. One of the studies cited, showed that after the retinal complications and subsequent retinal surgical treatment for repair, 45.8% lost two or more lines of acuity. Studies such as this continue to emphasize the importance of continued comprehensive eye care following Lasik surgery.
In discussing myopia progression in children with their parents I will discuss gas permeable lenses, Orthokeratology, and Progressive Addition Lenses (PAL) in spectacles. The parents are often surprised at my recommendations for contact lenses since their children are so young and I absolutely draw stares when I mention that if contacts are not chosen (gas permeable lenses or Orthokeratology) I am going to prescribe a Progressive multifocal pair of glasses. The response that I usually receive is "Bifocals for my child?" The results of the COMET, which included 469 ethically diverse children ages six to eleven, showed that Progressive Addition Lenses in addition to correcting their vision may have the additional benefit of slowing the myopic progression. I will still continue to recommend gas permeable contact lenses and Orthokeratology as my preferred method of treatment in children with progressive myopia but studies like COMET show that PALs may also be a viable option.
Sometimes while on the web, I will come across some item that is just fun. I have incorporated this into the website because everyone should have a little fun occasionally. I have decided to put at least one "fun" thing into each newsletter. I hope that you enjoy it. This particular item is a puzzle that has you cast in the role of Joe, the lazy platypus inthe town of Chasmton. The flow of water has been interupted so it is up to you to solve the puzzle and restore water flow to the town. It is a very well done puzzle. Please be patient with the download as it is a rather large file. You can find it at Chasm.
The EyeMail Newsletter from No Blur is a low volume, periodic emailing containing the most recent developments in eyecare today. It is provided as a free service by No Blur and is by subscription only. It is intended for anyone interested in current topics in eyecare. If you are receiving this newsletter in error, please unsubscribe above. To change your Email address, remove your name (unsubscribe above) and re-subscribe with your new address.
If you have any questions email us here at EyeMail Questions.
Read all of the other No Blur! EyeMails at the online archives.
A Message From Dr. Maller
Top